ACTIVIST group Citizens for a Better Bahamas yesterday canvassed the Centreville area to encourage residents to sign a petition opposing the proposed VAT system.
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
ACTIVIST group Citizens for a Better Bahamas yesterday canvassed the Centreville area to encourage residents to sign a petition opposing the proposed VAT system.
Gesner Dalmon, walkabout coordinator, said the group visited almost 20 homes, adding that efforts were slowed due to the low level of awareness of the new tax structure set to be implement in less than five months.
Notwithstanding that formal legislation has not yet been presented to parliament, VAT is still on track for a July 1 implementation, according to State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis last week.
Speaking to parliamentarians, Mr Halkitis said the Bahamas has no other viable option to spark the required streams of revenue it needs to arrest government debt.
MP’s were debating changes to the excise and tariff acts.
Yesterday, the group met in the parking lot of Madeira Shopping Centre, and canvassed in the Centreville area from 1pm to 4pm.
“We had a very productive time,” said Mr Dalmon, “a lot of positive responses. Persons were more than willing to sign and wanted to know more, just to have an understanding of how the cost of living is going to increase.”
He added: “We have a lot of ground to cover and it’s just not sufficient time. Persons want to know more about the whole issue, a lot of people are surprisingly unaware. They said they heard about VAT, but don’t understand the whole concept so in that regard they are unaware of how it’s going to affect them.”
The walkabout comes after another Cabinet minister last week added his voice to those calling for legalising a Bahamian web shop industry.
Financial services minister Ryan Pinder last week said the government should look into converting the numbers industry to domestic electronic casinos which would be owned by Bahamians and placed where they can legally gamble on pre-approved electronic games.
Mr Pinder suggested the $20-$100 million in annual taxes web shops might generate could lessen what was needed from Value-Added Tax (VAT).
He added that a “major business person” had indicated to him that he “can work” with VAT, if the rate was cut from 15 per cent to 10 per cent, and implementation pushed back from July 1, 2014, to January 1, 2015.
Meanwhile, the petition launched in December by the Coalition for Responsible Taxation had collected 6,487 signatures last night.
The coalition was established by the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation to advocate for the government to delay the implementation of VAT and to allow for more public education, and consideration of possible alternatives.
Comments
JohnDoes 10 years, 2 months ago
These persons are wasting their time. The government is not going to listen to a majority vote, they already said that this is still going forward cheapest you get ready for VAT, they aint trying nothing else. Our deficit is too high, PGC is too scared to do anything deemed necessary for this country, they rather tax and slave the poor to save their own pockets and make up for their ludicrous spending and high salaries. It would be completely ridiculous and shameful to impose VAT on the people before imposing a tax system on this numbers loop hole.
ohdrap4 10 years, 2 months ago
And. lest we forget: the alternative is PAYROLL TAX!!!! PAYROLL TAX FOLKS!!!
With vat, you can minimise your profile by seeking no tax or low-tax items. Preparing your own meals, and learning how ro do minor repairs on your appliances.
But pay roll, you are hit for certain, and and, they will keep increasing it.
And , the VAT consultant is not on payroll, so he dont pay nothing while ducking the long-standing property tax.
jlcandu 10 years, 2 months ago
I disagree with JohnDoes. At least these "activists" have the guts to do something instead of give up and complain and do nothing.
If ordinary Bahamians sit back and relax and say the usual "there's nothing you can do", then you have nothing to complain about if this VAT comes to fruition. The activists are making a lot of headway since the government hasn't even tabled the legislation yet -- I think there is growing dissention in the ranks of the PLP and they are beginning to voice their opposition openly. The PLP is no longer a united force, and the younger MP's know that this will their last term in office if the VAT is implemented.
Why not sign a petition against the VAT instead of criticizing those who are actually doing something positive?
JohnDoes 10 years, 2 months ago
Isnt it obvious that petitions and everything the public cries out for never happens. I dont care how much you try to fool me by having referendums and petitions, the governemnt does not adhere to the results. One of the examples of how they fixed the gambling referendum questions that either a YES or NO vote still would have let the businesses operate. To change the problem you have to get rid of the politicians. Bahamians too dumb to realize that these politicians dont care about us because they are the only qualified persons that really exist and want to participate in politics. Time and time again the people speak but they dont listen. The main concerns should be finding funds for education grants that can at least get the unfortunate started in college, so they can experience some success and opportunity at education instead of giving up and settling for less because they are poor . Everyone does not get a fair chance at anything in this country. There is no Freedom of Information and there is no Equal Oppotunity: The two main things that the country needs so the people can know whats going on, find out how to make a difference and at least have chance to make that difference. The fact that we pay attention to this and not education is the reason why we cant rise, because nobody has the 'paper or degree' to have their concerns validated. So, foreigners and rich cronies will continue to have their control of the country, just look at all the friends & family relations in government that stems down the line through our history, most of them come from rich or well paid families that are a result of cronism and the once aristocracy.
jlcandu 10 years, 2 months ago
Okay then, we agree that we need a Freedom of Information Act. The FNM drew up the legislation and the PLP refuses to pass it. The Citizens for a Better Bahamas are advocating for freedom of information.
I agree with your point about education. The problem is that the Scholarship Committee are politicos who grant scholarships to the party faithful. So the intelligent youth of this country who are not "correctly" politically aligned cannot get the education they deserve.
The only way to fix this problem is to vote out the idiots in charge. But until the electorate stops looking for freebee's to buy their vote on election day, this will not happen. So what are you going to do? Give up? The only way to reach the politicians is by numbers -- people in their constituencies letting their MP's know that they are doing a lousy job.
Once the politicians figure out that tens of thousands of voters are pissed off at them and will vote them out, they will start paying attention. The Coalition has over 6,000 petitioners and the CBB has over 4,000. The numbers are growing everyday. Be part of the solution or at least support those who are trying to make a positive change.
JohnDoes 10 years, 2 months ago
There is no positive change for an already corrupted government. Sounds like protest sign ups need to happen. We have voiced in peace, we have tried everything in peace but this is getting no where. Maybe we need to be like the protesters in Egypt and the current Ukraine to get what we need done. I know for sure that they aint ready for that. The Burma Road Riot was the last known of strength in numbers for Bahamians.
JohnDoes 10 years, 2 months ago
Well I must tell you that you are partially correct, the main reason for their protests is because of the signage of the government to ally with Russia by their prime minister, when the people have expressed and fought for years to ally with the EU. My point was that these people (Bahamians) are too lazy to protest in anger and outrage. The government has failed us, why not protest. I wasnt talking about comparing governments, I was talking about 'strength in numbers'
Cornel 10 years, 2 months ago
They must continue the fight! Keep visiting the homes. Sign up the masses.
AND, at 20 homes per day, they will be finished in 5-10 years
pat242 10 years, 2 months ago
Why people like this (duck face ass hole) continue to be negative towards persons who is actually doing something about VAT. Instead you give a solution to this matter you cry, bitch, and complain. If you are not willing to contribute something positive for the cause please shut up. I hope these brave men and woman continue to fight against VAT and The Bahamas finds another way to pay off its debt.
moncurcool 10 years, 2 months ago
The citizens of Egypt got together and using social media brought down a regime that would not listen. Are we content just to complain about what the government is doing, or are we willing to do something to change it and make a difference?
JohnDoes 10 years, 2 months ago
It wasnt only social media, it was also protests that eventually turned violent. Bahamians too lazy to make that kind of change.
realfreethinker 10 years, 2 months ago
People power just brought down the government in Ukraine also.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 2 months ago
Do you think anyone in Centreville (a) know what VAT stands for (b) gives a damn about VAT (c) will pay VAT????????
They too busy looking for a handout from UR2.0 or ducking bullets.
realfreethinker 10 years, 2 months ago
You are so right
ATLParkboy 10 years, 2 months ago
Forget VAT: 1. Income Tax (based on % of income, incremental % increases Higher income = higher taxes) 2. Sales Tax 3. Property Tax (enforced) 4. Business License fees/Tax (enforced based on % profits) Also there should be certain tax exemptions to those that have incomes putting them below the poverty level. However, these will never come to pass because the ones most affected by these ideas are the elite policy/law makers & elite notable families who are all aligned inside and out of "politricks". As the kids say "Believe that, Real Talk"
sheeprunner12 10 years, 2 months ago
Some other VAT alternatives: 1. Legalize marijuana for the tourists, set up some ganja cafes like in Amsterdam and walla! 2. Legalize numbers, so the poor Bahamian can finish ruin himself and walla! 3. Put an air and sea tax on all transport coming to Nassau/Freeport etc and walla! 4. Best one: put some toll booths on Hubert's highways and charge for entry and walla!
Think outside da box yall
TheMadHatter 10 years, 2 months ago
Yeah, it's too bad the FNM never got that Freedom of Information Act passed and implemented.
They tried the old trick of having a lot of projects and Laws (all over the Bahamas) half-done come election time - hoping to fool the people into giving them another term to "finish the good work started."
Well, Bahamians said NO. Ya'll had 5 years and instead of having 100 projects half-done you should have had 50 project completely done. So out you go fools !!!!!! LOL.
Hopefully the PLP will take note, and get some things 100% finished before next election - cause I don't think the people gonna give them more time to do their homework.
I wish I could tell my boss that "I can't get much done in 5 years" - give me another 5. I think he WOULD GIVE me another 5 - it would be another 5 MINUTES to grab my personal belongings and get the heck off his property.
TheMadHatter
asiseeit 10 years, 2 months ago
Freedom of Information or nothing! The Politrickans want my money they better give me F.o.I.
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